Nurturing the Parent-Child Connection

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Playing with Separation

My 3-year-old daughter is currently having trouble being away from me. Today I wanted her to go shopping with her father so I could go out to get her birthday present. She didn’t want to go. I asked her if she would be willing to go with her father after we spent 15 minutes together painting boxes and having fun. She agreed and after we spent this time having fun together she was willing to go, but she was still upset.

She was in her father’s arms going out the door, looking sad, when her dad said with a twinkle in his eye, “She’s coming with me”. I said, “Oh no, don’t take her. I don’t want her to go. She’s my sweetie and I need her here with me. ” My daughter had a delighted look on her face by this stage. I ran over to them and tried to drag her out of her dad’s arms yelling that I needed her and didn’t want her to go. Her dad was yelling, “No, she’s my sweetie and she’s coming with me!” We chased each other all over the house. Grandad was there too, and he joined in.

When I managed to steal my sweetie, Grandad swooped in and grabbed her back and raced her to the car. I pretended to be sad saying, “Don’t go! I need you!” She replied, “I’m going. I have to go.” I pretended to cry and they started the car. I raced over and opened the door and tried to get her out of her seat but she said, “No, I have to go. I won’t be long.” So I closed the door and she had a delighted cheeky look on her face and they drove away all vigorously waving. It was so nice to see her leaving with a smile instead of sadness.